Jack Lambert’s sixth minute goal secured Dundee victory over Dundee United. The midfielder’s goal secured the young Dees their first win of the Development League season, in what was a hotly contested match.
Randy Wolters started for Dundee alongside two young trialists, and the Dutchman played a key role in the opening goal.
His cut back was met by Matty Henvey, who saw his shot saved by Josh Donaldson. The ball fell for Jack Lambert, who fired the ball past Donaldson from close range.
Dundee were bossing the game in the opening stages, and saw Jesse Curran and Wolters both passed up good opportunities.
United had offered little in an attacking sense, but were doing well to disrupt Dundee’s rhythm. Both sets of players were flying into tackles, which often disrupted the flow of the game.
Lambert sent Ian Smith in behind the United backline, but his effort curled harmlessly past the post, before Curran sliced a shot wide following a surging run from right back.
With half time approaching, United were nearly gifted an equaliser. Declan Glass stole the ball from Calum Ferrie, but the Dundee keeper managed to smother the ball without fouling the United forward.
Lewis Spence joined Jordan Piggott and Glass in the referee’s notebook when he flew in to a crunching tackle on Harvey Dailly.
Logan Chalmers saw his low drive held by Ferrie before Wolters was denied by Donaldson after the hour mark.
Lambert had the chance to double his tally after 71 minutes, but saw his header from close range come back off the crossbar.
Spence also passed up a chance to double Dundee’s lead in the closing minutes. The midfielder beat Donaldson to a long ball, but couldn’t put the ball into the empty net from 20 yards, but the Dees held on to secure the win.
In the end, the score line doesn’t reflect the young Dees dominance. On another day, they’d have won this game by four or five goals. From front to back, they were stronger than Dundee United, who to their credit, hung in to the end.
Jesse Curran was excellent at right back, and was unlucky not to finish one of his surging runs with a goal. In midfield, Lewis Spence continues to improve with every match while Jack Lambert again showed real signs of quality, as well as bagging the winning goal.
Dundee (4-2-3-1): Ferrie, Curran, Rice, Trialist, Piggott, Spence, Smith (Moore 66), Lambert, Henvey, Trialist (Anderson 71), Wolters (Hornyik 80)
Subs Unused: Gourlay, Berry, Mooney
Goal: Lambert 6’
Dundee United (4-2-3-1): Donaldson, Ritchie, Dailly, Davidson, Bollan, Reekie, Thomas, Allardice, Appere (McMeekin 66), Chalmers, Glass (Inglis 66)
Subs Unused: Davie, Hornby
Report: Andrew Creegan
